BOXING chiefs yesterday criticised a new British Medical Association anti boxing campaign.

The BMA have produced a film highlighting the dangers of the sport which is to be shown in cinemas in London over the next two months.

The Boxing Board of Control haven not been provided with a copy of the tape, and its secretary, John Morris, said yesterday: "We note that the BMA have issued an anti boxing film for showing in cinemas as part of its campaign to deny young men the right to decide for themselves whether or not to take part in the sport.

"Regrettably the BMA has not seen fit to provide the board's medical panel with a copy of this film or to invite board representatives to any showing of It.

"The board questions whether, despite all the debate the BMA has lost in their campaign against boxing, they are justified in spending so much time and energy in this way, work that could be better directed to combating the dangers of smoking, cancer and all the other health issues in this country.

"It would seem particularly insensitive for this fresh campaign to be launched against boxing at a time when tragic injuries in other sports, notably rugby and horse racing, have demonstrated the dangers that lie elsewhere. It is clear the BMA have never recognised the authentic statistics that show boxing remains well down the list of dangerous sports.

"The BMA appears to the board to take an entrenched view that cannot be based on accurate knowledge of professional boxing in Britain because no BMA study has ever been made in genuine consultation with the board.

"On the other hand the board continues to improve medical and safety standards, using independent experts to advise it. This year alone a whole range of new safeguards have been introduced and further major steps are planned that will include provision for research."

A former world featherweight champion, Barry McGuigan, the chairman of the Professional Boxers Association (the boxers' union), has hit at out the BMA's latest move.

"It's blow below the belt. This is typical of the small minority on the BMA who are anti boxing. They are unfairly targeting boxing, an Oxford graduate got killed the other day playing rugby, yet they don't target rugby.

"Kids get an opportunity to make a life for themselves through boxing. These people are not allowed to play God and take that chance away from them.

"I do have accidents. The serious injury rate in rugby and other sports is much higher than in boxing, but these guys are targeting boxing. In contact sports these things do happen, people do get hurt.

"But it's a much lower rate in boxing that in all of the other sports. They keep coming up the with this regurgitated nonsense over and over again," he said.

Dr Jeffrey Cundy, of the BMA, said: "The injury rate is set against a very low rate of people competing. The evidence is quite clear that if you complete a professional career you have a 15 to 20 per cent chance of getting dementia resulting from boxing."

McGuigan added: "I don't have any damage that Dr Cundy is talking about. This is an unnecessary campaign.

"Boxing is great for character building, it teaches them self respect and discipline."